Amanda- I think the big stage probably did not help. I would have liked a bit of a cheeky ballet routine. But she has said previously she wants to get into contemporary dance, so she was probably using the appearance a chance to showcase herself.

Sonya Tayeh choreographed it. Also, Talia only had a few hours to learn the routine, since Channel Ten didn’t bother to sponsor her green card until the last minute. She almost didn’t make it over there. She didn’t even have a full day to learn it.

And RR, she wants to get into contemporary ballet, not contemporary. There is a difference. They didn’t let her do her own routine, they made her do a choreographed one. I subscribe to the conspiracy theory that they didn’t want her to be en pointe because it would show up their very poor and insipid ballerina on the current season, who can’t even do mediocre slow pointe work properly. Talia said in many interviews before going over there that she wanted to do something in her pointe shoes. Maybe because Ten fucked her over with the green card issues, there may not have been enough time for Sonya to choreograph/experiment with Talia in her pointe shoes.

I know, how stressful would it be? I know the prize money is HUGE, but I think this prize is possibly even bigger, especially for an Australian dancer. Principal dancers with the Australian Ballet often don’t even get that exposure! I felt really proud to see her in the Kodak Theatre.

I’m pissed that Channel Ten almost ruined it for her. Gah, why does Aussie TV have to be so incompetent at times?!

RR – I’ll drop by and talk to you about it after the show has finished, I’ve been watching it on YT so I’ll spoil you if I talk about it now!

Mary – Yeah, I reeeeally wish they had just let her do one of her pointe solos. She did the Top 16 solo on tour, a longer version of it, and it was awesome. It would’ve been amazing to see that in the US.

Wow .. what a disappointment ! That dance was so underwhelming ! Poor Talia .. she is sooo much better than what they gave her to dance … I hope she gets another chance to do what she WANTS to do. GOOD LUCK Talia .. we are all behind you